Signal transduction by cell adhesion receptors in leukocytes

Leukocytes usually pass through the blood stream as nonadherent cells, but during an immune response and inflammation, they become adherent in order to migrate through tissues. Three families of adhesion molecules, the immunoglobulin family, the selectins, and the integrins, participate in interactions between leukocytes and tissues. Near sites of inflammation, leukocytes initially interact with the endothelium via selectins, causing them to slow down and to roll along the walls of blood vessels. Next, chemoattractans induce the activation of integrins on leukocytes. Finally, activated integrins mediate leukocyte migration through the endothelium into the inflamed site. Interactions of leukocytes with other cells and various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins lead to different functional cell responses, including changes in growth, behavior, and differentiation. Many of these interactions are mediated by integrins, which "integrate" ECM protein signals with the cytoskeleton and which also act as true receptors that generate biochemical signals within the cell. Changes in pH, cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration, phosphorylation, and gene induction have all been observed after integrin engagement. Adhesion-mediated gene induction in monocytes is perhaps the best example that integrins initiate signaling cascades in the cell to deliver information from the ECM all the way to the nucleus.